Southend: Continued targeting of drink and drug drivers sees 11 arrests.

On Saturday 1 March, our Roads Policing Unit officers continued to tackle drink and drug driving by focussing their efforts to target unfit drivers in the Southend and Rochford areas.

 

On the day, the team arrested 12 people in total – 11 for drink and drug offences and a further arrest in connection with possession of drugs.  Two of the arrests came after the drivers tried to evade arrest with officers following in pursuit to ensure no one was injured by their reckless driving decisions.

Impassioned Roads Policing Unit officers lead our road safety policing activities and are dedicated to keeping roads safe for everyone. To this end, their performance saw 142 traffic offence reports issued that day for a variety of offences after officers detected breaches of road-related laws.

 

Enforcement of the law resulted in 14 uninsured vehicles being seized, a driver warned about anti-social driving and one driver being asked to perform an eyesight test – all ways we can keep all our road users safe.

 

But stops for drink or drug driving can also link to other, more serious crimes.

 

One driver who was arrested for drug driving in Southend was subsequently further arrested in connection with an incident from 2024 whereby a five-figure sum of goods was taken from a lorry in Witham. The 29-year-old man from East London has been released on bail whilst we continue our enquiries.

 

In a second incident, the driver of a BMW car was brought to a stop in Chalkwell after the driver failed to stop for police. The 21-year-old from Billericay was arrested on suspicion of fraudulent use of a registration mark after it was established that the car was displaying the wrong VRM. He was further arrested on suspicion of no insurance, using an unroadworthy car, dangerous driving. He too has been bailed.

Each weekend, our Roads Policing Unit officers will be out again, patrolling the county’s roads to make an impact into the continuous battle against drink and drug drivers, tackling vehicle crime and drivers whose poor and dangerous driving poses a threat to others.

 

Law abiding drivers have nothing to worry about, but those using the road after drinking or driving should know we will take all necessary enforcement action to keep our roads safe.